The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-08-13
A milestone Of NEGRO proeress.

The Glenn bill, with its barbarous penal
ties. seemingly aimed especially at Atlanta
University, has called back public attention
to the condition and prospects of the negro
In America, subject from which the public
mind of America cannot be long turned away
for years and perhaps centuries to come.
The particular phase of the ever present
problem brought to view by the Glenn bill is
not a pleasant one; since it delimits the great
task Of acquiring for the negro the equality
which should accompany American citizen
ship. 1t is much more pleasant to turn to
eYldences of the progress which the negro is
making, and to the efforts which are made
for him. From no region of the South are
such evidences more welcome than from the
State OF Arkansas. By an act OF the Legis-
lature of 1873 Arkansas established for the
better education of its colored citizens the
Branch Normal College as department of
the Arkansas Industrial University. In the
fall Of 1875 the institution opened its doors
offering free tuition, the only requirements
for admission being suitable age and qualif-
cations, an appointment from one of the
county judges, and the payment of a nomin-
al entrance fee. The principal of the school
is an educated negro, and the object of it is
the education OF young negroes for the work
of teaching their race. There are now two
hundred and fifteen students in the institu-
ton. acquiring knowledge OF the common
EngliFh studies, the sciences, and even some
of the languages. This is done at the ex-
pense OF the State of Arkansas, the Governor
being eg o6icio the President Of the Board of
Trustees. So much for what is being done
for the education of the negro by so reac-
tionary State as Arkansas.
Twelve years, the time during which the
State Of Arkansas has applied itself to the
higher education of its colored youth through
this institution, is short time from which
to expect signs Of great advancement in a
people; quarter of century even, nearly
the entire time that has elapsed since Eman
cipation, would seem hardly sufficient to
bring forth any fruits But last year there
was manifested very encouraging sign that
the work Of the State and of private philan-
thropy is beginning to have results. Last
October, at Pine Bluff, the seat Of the State
college for the negro, the first "Colored In
dustrial Fair Of the State of Arkansas" was
held under the auspices of the "Colored In
dustrial and Fair Association" Joint stock
company of colored men, regularly incorpo-
rated under the statutes of Arkansas. That
fair was success. All premiums were paid
up from the proceeds, something that II is
sometimes difficult to do in States more adj.
vanced than Arkansas, and large surplus
was left for improvements on the grounds
This year the second fair will be held in the
middle Of October. A fair is generally
very good place for judging what the oeople
of a region are doing; and undoubtedly the
Colored Industrial Fair of Arkansas is the
best possible means of judging how the col
ored people of the State are progressing in
dustrially and socially, The premium list
of this fair may be taken as key to the as
pirations of the colored people of Arkansas.
1t is far more significant than would be the
premium list Of Maine fair, since the di-
versity of employments in Arkansas is less
than in Maine, and the negroes form homo
genous agricultural population, whose few
interests may be encompassed by single
fair and Industrial exhibit. The impor-
lance OF the farming Industry to the negroes
OF Arkansas is Of course attested by giving
the hrst place on the list to farm animals and
farm products. For horses and mules there
are twenty-sx premiums; for cattle and
swine twenty-nine; for poultry twenty
eight; for corn, wheat and other CEREALS .
large number of premiums. But tbe ArIon
sas negro has always been farmer. and IL